Expiry or best before date

[Possum_Magic]

I make CP soap for myself, friends and family.

Do you calculate/set best-before dates?

I pulled some old CP soap from my drawers- that i'd been using to scent my clothing, which was maybe 2 yrs old- and compared it to a recently cured batch. I found the soap had faded in color and scent. ATM, I only use EOs and natural colorants (I wasn't surprised about the scent fading because of the EOs). The uncolored part of the soap had kind of- for want of a better word- yellowed slightly, or aged. It only changed color slightly. Basically it wasn't as vibrant.

Some Eos come with a best-before date, as do the oils (e.g. my mango butter is 2 years), but when you are combining all multiple products that have different best before-dates, what best-before date should you use?

I am hoping that one or a few of the many super experienced soapers here can give me a rough estimate of how long your soaps remain in their prime.

TIA

 

[Ruthie]

There are so many variables, and you alluded to that fact. I do not try to "set a date" for that reason. If a bar no longer looks "pretty" I donate it, though I do plan soon to try my hand at felting.

FWIW I started out with natural colors such as alkanet and parsley but was not at all satisfied. They bled and faded in no time. WSP says their oxides are natural so now that is what I use. Colors are limited, but I feel good about using them.

 

[IrishLass]

I only make soaps for me, my family and friends as well, and speaking only for myself, I never set "Best Used By" dates on them.

I normally try to hold back a bar from each batch that I make to see how it fairs down the road, and I'm amazed at how long most of my bars last in wonderful condition loooong past the expiration dates on the materials that went into making them. I kid you not- I have bars that are over 7 to 8 years old and they are still quite lovely. Sure, some of the scents may be weaker or non-existent (amazingly, not all of them, though), but the colors have held up quite nicely (I use ultramarines, oxides and mica).

And just because the scent or color in your soap may be faded, it doesn't mean the soap is past its prime and/or bad to use. As long as the soap does not develop DOS and/or a rancid smell, it's still good soap, at least in my book. Whenever I decide to bite the bullet and use one of my held-back bars, I am always amazed at what a dream they are to shower with in terms of lather and mildness, which tells me a lot about how curing is a wonderful thing and should never be skimped on.


IrishLass

 

[shunt2011]

I too keep a bar from pretty much every batch. I have soaps 4 years or so old and some just like Irishlass are just as lovely colored and smell as when I made them. Others the scent faded a bit or a couple disappeared. I've never developed DOS but once on a shampoo bar (thank goodness). I think that once you make the soap that there are more factors at play that affects the longevity of the soap without going bad (for lack of better word). I think as long as you are using oils/butters that are good when making the soap it's not generally a problem.